Extension leaf table



Sept. 8, 1942.

EXTENSION LEAF TABLE Filed Oct. '9,- 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet l v INVENTOR WALTER DORWIN TEAGUE JR.

ATTORNEYS w. D. TEAGUE.IJR 2,295,095 V Sept. 8, 1942. w. o. TEAGUE. JR

EXTENSION LEAF TABLE Filed Oct. 9,. 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR" WALTER DORWIN TEAGUE JR '9 (9 A'rroRNEYs Sept. 8, 1942.

' w. D. TEAGUE, JR 2,295,095 I EXTENSION LEAF TABLE Filed Oct. 9, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 sin 4o 40' I0 i 3to5 Fig.6

4o 40 58, 5s I 'EI'7 INVENTOR WALTER DORWIN TEAGUE JR.

ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 8, 1942 2,295,095 EXTENSION LEAF TABLE Walter Dorwin Teague, Jr., Douglaston, N. Y., as-

signor to The Enamel Products 00., Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application October 9, 1940, Serial No. 360,349

Claims.

This invention relates to an improved extension leaf table.

The principal object of the invention pertains to the provision of an extension leaf table having a novel extension leaf movement and an extension leaf which is capable functionally of simple operation and ornamentally of yielding a new architectural design.

In the extension leaf table of the present invention, the extension leaf or leaves (two oppositely positioned leaves being usually provided) is movable between an extended horizontal position in alignment with the table top and a contracted position folded under with respect to the table top. When the leaf (or leaves) is in its contracted position, it lies in a plane spaced below and preferably parallel to the plane of the table top, and the spacing is preferably such that a frame assembly is interposed or sandwiched between the contracted leaves and the table top. In area and contour, each table leaf is made to substantially conform to the corresponding part of the table top overlying the same, and the mounting thereof is such that the exterior edges (sides and outer end) of the contracted leaf are exposed in the same way as are the corresponding table top edges.

It results from this novel leaf mounting and arrangement that the extension leaf or leaves partakes in the ornamental design of the table when the leaf is in the contracted as well as in the extended position. The vertically spaced arrangement of table top and contracted leaves, the alternating superposition of contracted leaves, frame assembly and table top, the conforming of the overlying areas of these parts, edge faces of which are all exposed to View, the conforming of the contours of the table top and the contracted leaves, the contrasting surface ornamentation that may be imparted to these parts, all combine to produce a highly attractive and novel architectural table design.

In the embodiment of this table design and structure, the extension leaf (each, if two are provided) is pivotally mounted on a slide member which is slidable beneath the table top. The extension leaf is movable externally about the outer edge of the slide member when moved to its extended horizontal position in alignment with the table top and its contracted horizontal position folded under the table top (or the frame assembly thereof). This mounting enables the extension leaf to enter into and partake in the table design in the folded under contracted as well as in the extended position. The extension leaf is pivotally mounted on the slidemember so that the pivot axis of the mounting is along the outer edge or side of the slide member and along a line intermediate the inner and outer sides of the extension leaf. Thereby, the slide member need only be moved out or in a fraction of the extension leaf width to enable the extension leaf movement between its contracted and extended positions. This construction and arrangement, therefore, produces a novel leaf movement and an extension leaf capable of very convenient and simple operation. 7 V i v p To the accomplishment of all of the aforestated objects and to such other objects as may hereinafter appear, the present invention resides in the novel structural principles of the extension leaf table as herein described and sought to be defined in the appended claims.

In the appended drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevational View of the table of the present invention, showing one leaf in ex tended and another leaf in contracted position;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational View of the same showing the leaf in its contracted position;

Figs. 1 and 2 together depict the novel architectural design produced by the table structure of the present invention;

Figs. 3 to 5 are cross-sectional views of the table (with the supporting legs broken away and with one of the extension leaves removed), showing the extension leaf in both its contracted and extended positions and the manner of moving the same between these positions. These figures are taken in cross-section along the planes of the line 3 to '5 of Fig. 6 of the drawings; 47 i I Fig. 6 is a top plan View of the table with the table top removed and the extension leaf shown in a turned-down position ready for movement to contracted position;

Fig. 'Iis an enlarged view of a detail taken in cross-section in the plane of the line '!'I of Fig. -6; and r Fig. Bis a view of a detail taken in cross-section inthe plane'of the line 88 of Fig. 6.

Referring now more in detail to the drawings and having reference first to Figs. 1 to 5 thereof,

the essential elements of the table of the present invention are shown to comprise a table body B, a table top T supported on said body, one or more extension leaves L, L pivotally mounted relatively to said body B and movable between an extended horizontal position in alignment with the table top as shown'to the right of Fig. l and a contracted horizontal position folded under with respect to the table top as shown to the left of Fig. l of the drawings. The table body B includes a body frame assembly F supported thereby, which frame assembly is arranged between the table top T and the extension leaves L when the latter are in their contracted position, the extension leaves being so mounted that they fold under the frame assembly F when moved to their contracted position, producing an arrangement in which the frame assembly F is arranged or sandwiched between the table top T and the extension leaves L, as is clearly shown, for example, in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. The table body B is supported by the table legs I, l

The frame assembly F is specially designed so that the extension leaves L, L may be mounted thereon for the desired leaf movement and may be moved into free spaces provided between the said frame assembly F and the table body B. This frame assembly F, therefore, comprises a rectangular frame structure (see particularly Fig. 6), the outer walls of which are suitably contoured to enter into the table design as hereinbelow set forth, the said frame assembly being mounted on said table body B at a region inproviding free and open spaces thereat. More specifically, this frame assembly comprises two longitudinal frame strips 10 and II, the two transverse frame strips I2 and I3 joined thereto, and a second pair of transversely arranged frame strips I4 and IS, the longitudinal strips l and l I having the square cross-section best shown in Figs. 3 to 5 of the drawings, and all of the transverse frame strips l2 to l5 having the generally T-shaped outline shown in Figs. 1 and 3 to 5 of the drawings. This frame assembly is mounted on the table body B by attaching the inside transverse frame strips l4 and I5 medially to the end rails of the table body B, this being accomplished by the spaced connecting blocks l6 and H which join the cable body end rails l3 and I9,

respectively, to the T legs 23 and 2| of the transverse strips [4 and I5, suitable securing elements 22, 22 being used for this purpose. This frame F thus in effect provides two wings on opposite sides of the medial mounting spaced by the free spaces f, from the table body B. The table body B is completed by the side rails 23 and 24 and the corner braces 25.

In the embodiment of the table design and structure of the present invention, each of the extension leaves L, L is pivotally mounted on a slide member which is slidable beneath the table top in the frame assembly F. This slide member, generally designated as S, is movable between the contracted and extended positions shown generally in Fig. l and in detail in Figs. 3 to 6. In the contracted condition the slide member is within the geometrical confines of the table top T as shown in Fig. 3. In the extended position the slide member extends outwardly from the sides of the table top T as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The slide member specifically comprises a pair of slide elements 26 and 2! slidable in the frame assembly F in the manner to be described hereinafter, connected together at its outer ends by a cross rail 28 and also connected together at its under side by means of a cross support 29, which latter is adapted to rest upon the table body B. The underneath faces of the slide members 26 and 21 are suitably contoured to provide the stepped appearance shown particularly in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings. In Fig. 6 of the drawings, both slide members (for the opposite table sides) are shown, and for purposes of differentiation, the second slide memher and its arts are designated by similar but primed reference characters used for the first slide member S.

Each extension leaf L comprises, when made in the form of a so-called enamel or porcelain leaf, a filer frame 30 and an enamel coated sheet metal lining 3|. The extension leaf L is pivotally or hingedly mounted on the slide member S (or S) by means of the blocks 32, 32 suitably attached to the leaf filler frame 30, which blocks are hinged by means of the hinges 33, 33, to the slide cross rail 28. To carry out the intended design, there is also attached to the underneath face of the extension leaf L, a frame member consisting of a longitudinal strip 34 and two transverse strips 35, 35, constructed to mate with and fill cut the design of the frame assembly F when the leaves are moved to their contracted position.

It will now be observed, particularly upon viewing Figs. 3 to 5 of the drawings, that by means of this mounting the extension leaf L is movable externally about the outer edge of the slide member S (about the cross rail 28 thereof) when the same is moved between extended and contracted positions, and this mounting enables the extension leaf to enter into the table design in the folded-under contracted as well as in the extended position, as will be clearly evident upon viewing Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings. It will also be observed that the extension leaf L is pivotally mounted on the slide member S, so that the pivot axis of the mounting is along the outer edge or side of the slide member S and along a line intermediate the inner and outer sides of the extension leaf L. Thereby the slide member S need only be moved out or in a fraction of the extension leaf width, as is clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings, to enable the extension leaf movements between contracted and extended positions. To move the slide member S from a contracted to an extended position, the slide member S is merely moved the distance from the position shown in Fig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 4, and the extension leaf L is then capable of being rotated from the contracted horizontal position to the extended horizontal position. In movement from the extended to the contracted position, the operation of both the extension leaf L and the slide member S is in the reverse order. When moving the assembly of the slide member S and extension leaf L to the contracted position, all of the parts thereof including the filling out design frame 34, 35 move into the free spaces f, f between the frame assembly F and the table body B.

As a result of these principles of construction, the novel architectural table design depicted best in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings is produced. The vertically spaced arrangement of table top T and contracted leaves L, the alternating superposition of the contracted leaves L, the frame assembly F and the table top T, the conforming of the overlying areas of these parts, the edge faces of which are all exposed to View, the conforming of the contours of the table top D and contracted leaves L, L all combine to produce a highly attractive and novel architectural design. When the table top T is made in the form of a porcelain or enameled top comprising, for ex-- ample, a filler frame 36 and an enamel coated sheet metal lining 31, thus conforming to the structure and design of the extension leaves L, L, and the frame assembly F, as well as the filling out frame members for the extension leaves L are made of a contrasting material such as wood, both being contrastingly ornamented, the architectural uniqueness of the table is enhanced.

The novel ornamental design obtained by utilizing these structural principles is shown and claimed in my copending design application made jointly with Walter Dorwin Teague, now Patent No. Des. 124,657, granted January 14, 1941. The artistic effects produced and the enhancement of these effects obtained by the contrasting surface ornamentation of the parts will be apparent from the disclosures of this design application.

To suitably support and guide the sliding movements of the slides S and S, the slide members are provided with suitable runners supported and guided in rails carried by the frame assembly F. More specifically for the slide S, the slide element 26 is provided with spaced runners 38 and 39 riding in the guide rail 43, and the slide member 21 is provided with similar runners 4| and 42 (see Fig. 6) riding in the guide rail 43, both rails being suitably carried by the frame F. Similarly, for the slide S, the slide members 23 and 21' are provided with the runners 38', 33', 4| and 42, which ride in the second set of spaced rails 4% and 43. The stepped contour given to the underneath faces of the slide members S and S and the different planes occupied by the runners, the cross rail 28, and the cross support 29 thereof, permit the parts of the slides S and S to clear one another in the relative movement of the slide members. The slide runners are preferably made to coact with the slide rails to limit or stop the movement of the slides in their opposite directions. Thus, as shown for the slide S in Figs. 3 to of the drawings taken in connection with Fig. 6 thereof, the inner set of runners 4| and 38 coact with the inner ends of the slide rails 43 and 43 to provide a stop for the inward movement of the slide S, and the outer set of runners 42 and 39 coact with the outer ends of said slide rails to stop or limit the outward movement of the slides S. For this, see particularly and compare Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings.

To effectively support the extension leaf L in its extended position, the frame parts associated with the top T and extension leaf L are so constructed and relatively arranged as to provide an overhang 44 in the table top (see particularly Figs. 3 to 5) and a shoulder 45 in the leaf frame member 34 for engaging said overhang in the table top when the extension leaf is in its extended position. To accomplish this, the longitudinal frame strips Hi and H are inset relatively to the corresponding edges of the table top, and the leaf frame member 34 is offset relatively to the corresponding edge of the extension leaf L, as will be clearly seen from Figs. 3 to 5 of the drawings. It results from this that when the extension leaf L is moved into the position shown in Fig, 4 and then into the horizontal position, the slide S may be given an incremental inward movement to cause the engagement between the overhang 44 and the shoulder 45, which forms a mating means for securely supporting the extension leaf in its extended position. To hold these parts in such position without interfering with the return operation of the parts, a spring 46 attached to the interior face of the cross support 23 of the slide is provided, the free end of which engages a block 4] attached to the frame F (see Figs. 4, 5 and 6). For the slide member S, these parts are indicated by the same but primed reference numerals in Fig. 6.

The construction, mode of operation and produced results of the extension leaf table of my present invention will, in the main, be fully apparent from the above detailed description thereof. To move a leaf L to extended position, the exposed side edges thereof may be grasped by the operator, a pull exerted thereon to move the slide S to its outermost position, after which the extension leaf L is rotated about its hinge in the same manner shown in Fig. 4, until the horizontal extended position is assumed, after which the slide member S is given an incremental inward sliding movement to cause the table overhang to be engaged by the filler frame member of the extension leaf, the parts assuming the position shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. To return the leaf to its contracted position, the reverse movements are followed. In both leaf extended and leaf contracted positions, novel ornamental efiects are obtained, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings.

It will be apparent that while I have shown the preferred construction of the extension leaf table of the present invention, many changes may be made in the structure of the parts and in the specific design imparted thereto. without departing from the spirit of the invention defined in the following claims.

I claim:

3.. An extension leaf table comprising a table b::dy, a table top spacedly supported on said body, a slide member movably mounted beneath said table top, between contracted and extended positions with reference to the side edge of the table top, and an extension leaf pivotally mounted on said slide member adjacent the outer edge thereof, the said extension leaf being movable externally about the outer edge of said slide member between an extended horizontal position in alignment with the table top and a contracted position foided under with respect to said table top.

2. An extension leaf table comprising a table body, a table top spacedly supported on said body, slide members movably mounted beneath said table top, one on each of opposite sides thereof, between contracted and extended positions with reference to the side edges of the table top, and an extension leaf pivotally mounted on each said slide member adjacent the outer edge thereof, the said extension leaf being movable externally 180 about the outer. edge of the said slide member between an extended horizontal position in alignment with the table top and above the slide member and a contracted position folded under with respect to the table top and the slide member.

3. An extension leaf table comprising a table body, a table top, a support frame carried by the table body and supporting said table top spacedly above said table body, a slide member movably mounted in said support frame beneath said table top, between contracted and extended positions with reference to the side edge of the table top, and an extension leaf pivotally mounted on said slide member adjacent the outer edge thereof, the said extension leaf being movable externally 180 about the outer edge of said slide member between an extended horizontal position in alignment with the table top and a contracted position folded under with respect to said support frame and table top.

4. An extension leaf table comprising a table body, a table top, a support frame carried by the table body and supporting said table top spacedly above said table body, the said support frame being mounted on said table body inwardly of a side thereof, leaving the support frame free of said table body at said side, and providing a free and open space thereat, a slide member movably mounted beneath said table top, and an extension leaf pivotally mounted on said slide member adjacent the outer edge thereof, the said extension leaf being movable externally about the outer edge of said slide member between an extended horizontal position in alignment with the table top and a contracted position folded under with respect to said table top, the said extension leaf in its contracted position occupying said free space between the table body and the frame support.

5. An extension leaf table comprising a table body, a table top, a support frame carried by the table body and supporting said table top spacedly above said table body, the said support frame being mounted on said table body in a medial region only thereof, leaving the support frame free of said table body on both sides of the medial mounting and providing free and open spaces thereat, a slide member movably mounted beneath said table top at each side thereof, and an extension leaf pivotally mounted on each slide member adjacent the outer edge thereof, each said extension leaf being movable externally about the outer edge of its slide member between an extended horizontal position in alignment with the table top and a contracted horizontal position folded under with respect to said table top, the said extension leaf in its contracted position occupying the said free and open space between the table body and the frame support.

6. An extension leaf table comprising a table body, a table top spacedly supported on said body, a slide member movably mounted beneath said table top between contracted and extended positions with reference to the side edge of the tat-1e top, and an extension leaf pivotally mounted on said slide member, the pivot axis of the mounting being along the outer side of said slide member and along a line intermediate the inner and outer sides of said extension leaf.

'7. An extension leaf table comprising a table body, a table top spacedly supported on said body, a slide member movably mounted beneath said table top between contracted and extended positions with reference to the side edge of the table top, and an extension leaf pivotally mounted on said slide member, the pivot axis of the mounting being along the outer side of said slide member and along a line intermediate the inner and outer sides of said extension leaf, the said extension leaf being movable externally about the outer edge of the slide member between an extended position in alignment with the table top to a contracted position folded under the table top.

8. An extension leaf table comprising a table body, a table top, a support frame carried by the table body and supporting said table top spacedly above said table body, said table top having an overhang extending beyond said support frame, a slide member movably mounted beneath said table top, an extension leaf pivotally mounted on said slide member, the pivot axis of the mounting being along the outer side of said slide member and along a line intermediate the inner and outer sides of said extension leaf, and an element at the inner side of said extension leaf defining a shoulder for engaging said overhang in the table top when the extension leaf is in its extended position.

9. An extension leaf table comprising a table body, a table top, a support frame carried by the table body and supporting said table top spacedly above said table body, said table top having an overhang extending beyond said support frame, a slide member movably mounted beneath said table top, an extension leaf pivotally mounted on said slide member, the pivot axis of the mounting being along the outer side of said slide member and along a line intermediate the inner and outer sides of said extension leaf, an element at the inner side of said extension leaf defining a shoulder for engaging said overhang in the table top when the extension leaf is in its extended position, and resilient means between the slide member and the support frame active when the extension leaf is moved to extended position for resiliently maintaining said overhang-shoulder engagement.

10. An extension leaf table comprising a table body, a table top spacedly supported on said body, slide members movably mounted beneath said table top, one on each of opposite sides thereof, between contracted and extended positions with reference to the side edges of the table top, and an extension leaf pivotally mounted on each said slide member, the pivot axis of each mounting being along the outer edge of the slide member and along a line intermediate the inner and outer sides of the extension leaf.

WALTER DORW'IN 'I'EAGUE. JR. 

